Tony Hillerman

I was glued to the books during my teens. One could argue that I am still glued to books. Having gotten hooked on books is predominately due to various extraordinary storytellers. tony Hillerman was one of mine. He was a descriptive genius, at least in my opinion.

The Four Corners of the American west would come alive when I read his words. I could smell the air of the high desert. I could hear the storms of the monsoons. I could feel the pain of the fire as it creeped up the ravine. I was already drawn to the mysticism that surrounds the indigenous culture's history. He helped me fall in love.

If you have never been to the deserts of the American West you can travel there as easily when you pick up one of the many Leaphorn and Chee detective novels he wrote. Much safer than boarding a Boeing airline these days. If you have ever sought to connect with the ancestors of the great lands, he will bring you there. Don't know anything about the Dineh, he will offer the introduction.

I know now that I lack the talent for detective novels. I tried many time to put work in the macabre only to find my words stale and slipping of the pages. Most of those I admire I have come to accept that I will never emulate. We all have our talents and though some of our talents may be in the same profession they may not be of the same genre.

Of the few authors I reread, Hillerman pixelizes a world for me every time. I fall in love with the characters over and over again. I leave with the taste of dust in my mouth and knots in my hair. I sleep and dream of being in the book. This is the sign of a great author. That when the story is over, it keeps on going.